What Good Must I Do?

Just then, someone came up and asked Him, "teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?" Jesus replied, "Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Which ones?" he asked Him. Jesus replied:

Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honour your father and mother; and love your neighbour as yourself."

I have kept all these, the young man told Him, "what do I still lack?"

"If you want to be perfect", Jesus said to him, "go sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:16-21

This young man was serious, he was a keeper of the law and still felt hollow, there was something missing. He was searching for perfection in this life and eternal life in the next. He had kept the law but still lacked.

The young man asked "what good must I do?" I thought I had to be good to earn eternal life and was constantly frustrated in not finding it. Until, I met two young women who had something I did not. They had a light, a relationship with the Lord. They were on a different path. I was on the quest for 'good deeds' and they were already at peace in relationship without the sweat.

Jesus told the young man 'there is only One who is good.' in other words, 'wrong plan'. He invited the young man into relationship with the words 'come follow me.'

For the young man to enter the relationship he had to give up his present lifestyle and way. He was in a padded pen with all the trapping of this world but was unhappy. To come to Christ he had to leave his pen and his release would come by letting go all his security, his possessions.

The invitation into relationship was beautiful, a jewel far more precious than all the worldly trappings. Today it is still the same.

Possessions are not necessarily in the way of salvation for all, sometimes it is a wrong relationship. Each of us have our own barrier. It can be a mistaken mindset or attitude.

Jesus has the answer for all of us but first we have to come.